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Four Indian Americans among 1,500 individuals granted clemency by Joe Biden
The President’s clemency actions align with his administration’s broader focus on addressing disparities in sentencing, particularly for non-violent drug offenses.
President Joe Biden. / Reuters
Outgoing US President Joe Biden on Dec.12 commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals serving lengthy prison terms. Of these, four are Indian Americans: Meera Sachdeva, Babubhai Patel, Krishna Mote, and Vikram Dutta. In addition to these, he has also pardoned 39 others convicted of non-violent crimes.
These actions come just over a week after Biden signed an unconditional pardon for his son, Hunter Biden. In a statement, the president emphasized the importance of fairness in sentencing and rehabilitation. "As president, I have the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offenses," Biden said.
Indian Americans whose prison terms are reduced
Dr. Meera Sachdeva, 50, was sentenced in 2012 to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding Medicare by submitting false claims for chemotherapy services. Sachdeva, who owned and operated the Rose Cancer Center in Mississippi, admitted to billing for more chemotherapy drugs than she had purchased and providing patients with less-than-prescribed doses. Her actions resulted in an $8.2 million loss to Medicare. Sachdeva was also fined $250,000 and ordered to forfeit $6 million and several properties.
Babubhai (Bob) Patel, a pharmacist in Detroit, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for orchestrating a $57 million healthcare fraud scheme. Patel operated 26 pharmacies across metro Detroit and paid doctors to write unnecessary prescriptions while offering cash incentives to poor individuals in exchange for their Medicare or Medicaid information. Convicted in 2012, Patel was ordered to pay $18.8 million in restitution.
Krishna Mote, 43, was convicted in 2012 of conspiracy to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine and 500 grams of cocaine. His drug operation in Pennsylvania, which spanned from 2005 to 2007, involved distributing narcotics through local residences. Mote was sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction in a three-day jury trial.
Vikram Dutta, the owner of multiple retail perfume stores on the US-Mexico border, was sentenced in 2012 to nearly 20 years in prison for laundering millions of dollars for a Mexican narcotics organization. Through his perfume distribution business, Dutta accepted large cash payments generated from drug sales in the US and facilitated the movement of "narco dollars" to Mexico.
Clemency amid broader debate
Biden’s clemency actions align with his administration’s broader focus on addressing disparities in sentencing, particularly for non-violent drug offenses. The White House noted that many of those granted clemency would have received shorter sentences if charged under today's laws and policies.
While the president’s move has been praised by advocates for criminal justice reform, critics have questioned the timing of the announcement, coming shortly after the pardon of his son.
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